Upgrading new T60

Finally my school got with the program and is offering the new T60. I don't have any other information other than its a Core Duo T2300E with 1GB of memory, 40GB 5400rpm HDD, Wireless a/b/g and a 14.1" SXGA screen.

It's in the mail as I type and I am cruising around looking for "upgrades" as you can't change the specs on the machine. You get what campus computing gives you basically. Well, since I am a computer engineer, I just do it myself.

I'm looking at getting 2 x 1GB Crucial PC2-5300 DDR2 667 MHz SO-DIMMs, an Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 and a Seagate Momentus 7200.2 160Gb 7200rpm SATA HDD. Now, battery life is most definitely going to stink afterwards, but with enough spare batteries I can make a 6 hour plane ride watching DVD's. I mostly prefer to only fly a max of 3 hours at a time anyway. So I make an overnight layover when I have to fly to California. That gives me ample recharge time.

I am just inquiring if anyone has ever upgraded the memory and processor in a T60 notebook to date. Obviously the memory will be easy (to my standards), but I haven't done a processor in a ThinkPad. Any special tools needed? I already have precision torx and hex.

I also heard that the laptop complains when you don't put an IBM HDD in it. Is this still the case?

I know I will be voiding any warranty, but I don't really care.

Any pointers?

-GT

 

I have switched RAM--ezpz, it is under the touchpad..kind of tricky to get the plastic cover back on correctly.

I have to ask-why are you upgradig the processor so soon? Do you need the power/64 bit compatibility? I would save my money and wait until they got cheaper.

Hard drive-I think it is held in place by a screw on the bottom right corner of the notebook. That would be a niceee upgrade..I am contemplating such a replacement myself.

Also is the memory 2x512? If it is 1x 1GB you might not need to buy 2 gigs..
just a thought


Cheers

 

those are desktop components and are not for laptops.

 

The RAM is not for a desktop...

 

I know that, just confused about laptop ram and desktop components.

 

Upgrading the CPU is not worth it in my opinion. Plus you will have no warranty afterwards.

 

The computer comes with 2 x 512 Mb - I will have to replace both.
The HDD will make a nice performance jump.

When I went from the Pentium M 740 to the Pentium M 780 (when HP said it only took up to a 770) I saw a nice bump in performance and it didn't use that much more power. Now the Core Duo T2300E to a Core 2 Duo would be a much more massive jump. Now the website says the T60 will take a "Core 2 Duo" but on select models. I can't find any model that allows the selection of a Core 2 Duo on the T60 line. The only information I have on this laptop is from a vague E-mail I got from Campus Computing that they will be bringing my new laptop to my office in the next week and gave some basic specs.

From the Lenovo T60 service manual it lists the supported processors
Intel Core Solo T1300, T1400
Intel Core Duo T2300, T2300E, T3400, T2500, T2600, T2700
Intel Core 2 Duo T5500, T5600, T7200, T7400, T7600


They are all laptop components. Except I was mistaken on the processor model.

SO-DIMM's are the 200 pin mini ram chips that go into the laptop.
The Seagate Momentus line is the 2.5" laptop hard-drive line.

 

I thought currently 100gb is the largest drive @ 7200rpm offered on a notebook. anything over that would be 5400rpm or under.

 

Currently, yes 100GB @ 7200rpm is the largest (Momentus 7200.1). Coming in January/February will be the Momentus 7200. 2 series which uses the perpendicular recording in a 7200rpm drive.

I read through the maintenance papers and it seems the CPU should be cake. It's just a matter of finding that CPU or sticking with the 15W T2300E.

A Core Duo T2300E would probably kick the living daylights out of a Pentium M 780 speedwise. Hrm... Maybe they will make a T2700E soon...

 

so you're saying in jan/feb there will be a notebook hard drive that will have a 160gb capacity at 7200rpm? real sweet if thats the case. even though 100gb is decent for a notebook, you really only have about 88 after format. Good thing I save most of my files on my NAS.

 

I never checked mine, but I think the CPU is secured to the motherboard. Plus when swapping HD's don't upset the protection system. Even though Its usually just some elsastomers. You prob want to make sure you get one with Jarring protection as I think its built into the thinkpad-Im curious if this will cause any issues with the BIOS/Drivers? Soundsl ike you are building a dream machine on the cheap. Congrats, but The T60 isn't a gaming notebook really. I've tried. Your heat output is going to be through the roof. IBM/Lenovo has one of the cleanist Out Of Box laptops, but I can see why you would want to upgrade. Good luck, stay grounded.